Young Entrepreneurs of Palestine (YEP) is a budding organization based in Ramallah with a goal of promoting entrepreneurship and engaging Palestinian people (especially young and women) in economically productive activities. YEP gives a new value to the notion of entrepreneurship, reinforces the economic dimension of entrepreneurship and helps to build a solid foundation of human security (social, economic as well as national). YEP is a membership based non-profit, non-governmental Palestinian organization, whose mandate is to promote entrepreneurship and support young entrepreneurs, especially those with scarce resources. YEP aims to enhance the active participation, involvement and contribution of young people to the growth and advance of the Palestinian economy and society through the establishment and development of small and medium enterprises in a variety of settings. YEP was established beginning of 2003 upon the initiative of a dozen Palestinian young entrepreneurs, meanwhile YEP has 60 members. At its first General Assembly, February 2006, YEP opened the door for membership and is aiming at widening its base in Palestine to reach the total of 150 members by the end of 2009. Considering the contribution and significance that entrepreneurial SMEs could have as an important engine of growth, YEP aims at building a culture of entrepreneurship and leadership among Palestinian youth, increasing the number of entrepreneurs, enhancing the business environment for start-ups, expanding business through advocacy, promoting the business culture and the community based activities and facilitating entrepreneurship among young people (males and females) especially those with scarce resources. Targeting young women and men of ages 18-45 years old, YEP provides young entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences, benefit from peer support, consultancy, capacity building, networking as they start up and grow their businesses. YEP also works in the field of lobbying and advocacy for the creation of an enabling environment that enhances the ability of the private sector and the civil society organizations to advance the development process in Palestine. The idea behind starting Young Entrepreneurs Palestine was the pressing need for a professional body that is capable of representing the interest of and providing needed support to a broad group of Palestinian professionals including young top executives and entrepreneurs from all fields of the Palestinian business arena. YEP is functioning since 2004 with a team of seasoned professionals. Its previous and current activities are focused on the promotion of entrepreneurship and engaging young Palestinian people in economically productive activities, the promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises, the economic empowerment of rural Palestinian women and the Promotional Social Safety Net Activities Component of the Deprived Families Economic Empowerment Program. Equality and Cooperation have the requisite organizational experience to implement more and large community and social projects.

The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) is one of the world’s leading women’s organizations; with 25 million members in 110 countries. There have been YWCA groups in Palestine since 1893 in the towns of Jaffa and Jerusalem but the YWCA was formally established in Jerusalem in 1918 but its general work was done under the auspices of the World affiliated National Council of the YWCA of Egypt until 1928, and from 1930 to 1948, the YWCA of Palestine had an active role as an affiliated national association in the World YWCA, with nine branches altogether. Currently, the YWCA of Palestine is formed by three local association situated in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Jericho. The Young Women’s Christian Association(YWCA) of Ramallah was established in 1985 at the request of the Ramallah YWCA members to meet the increasing needs of the Ramallah area for the quality services the YWCA has been offering. The history of the YWCA of Palestine and how it has been shaped, and its evolving programs and structures, have been closely linked with the history, socio-political and economic situation in Palesinte. Although the focus had always been and will continue to be on the women and youth, yet the type of programs and strategies have changed in response to the changing context and needs.